Orange Roasted Chicken

 

 

One of the many recipes I made over the weekend and one of my favorites.  I use Orange marmalade or Apricot Preserves. This is a keeper my friends....you'll love the flavors. See more photos in the comment section under this post. Be sure and click on the photos for drool mode!

 Orange Roasted Chicken

1 chicken cut up (With the bones and skin. You can use breast, thighs or legs or the whole chicken)
2 cups orange marmalade or apricot preserves
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon orange zest
pinch or two of red pepper flakes (or more if you want it spicier)
1-2 teaspoons of liquid smoke (more if you like that smokey grilled chicken flavor).

Arrange your chicken in a deep dish. Mix preserves, soy sauce, orange zest, pepper flakes and liquid smoke in a saucepan over low heat and cook until preserves have melted down. Pour only half of the sauce over the chicken and set the remaining sauce aside. Cover chicken and place in the refrigerator for an hour.               

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the remaining sauce and stir over medium heat until warm and thicker than original sauce. Remove chicken from the refrigerator and place on raised rack inside baking or roasting pan. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth under rack. Brush the thickened warmed sauce on top of the chicken and cover entire pan or dish with aluminum foil to keep the steam inside the pan while roasting. Make sure chicken is not laying in the broth.

Bake for 40 minutes and then remove from oven. Remove foil and generously brush more sauce all over chicken. Turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake another 10-15 minutes uncovered. Baste once more until chicken is done. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve any additional sauce on the side.

 

 

 

 

  

Photographs are copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

 

 

Fastest Dessert Ever!

Fastest Dessert Ever!

1 dozen large strawberries, rinsed and paper towel dried
1 bag of chocolate chips
half & half
butter

Pour some chips into a small bowl. Add a tablespoon of butter and a splash of half & half. Nuke for about 45 seconds and then stir with a fork. If its not creamy, add more butter and cream and nuke for another 20 seconds and stir again. When creamy and glossy looking, dip the berries and set on wax paper. Refrigerate if you need them to harden quicker.

♥ Caramel Bread Pudding with Rich Caramel Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warning:  For anyone who might have gotten lost while looking for a low calorie, low fat, low carb, low sugar or low anything else, RUN!  This recipe is for those who like to indulge in the good things in life ...in moderation of course.

Caramel Bread Pudding with Rich Caramel Sauce

1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
4 1/2 cups 1-inch cubes brioche, preferably stale with crust removed
7 large eggs
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 pinches of salt

Spread brown sugar evenly in bottom of 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish (or other 9- to 10-cup dish). Sprinkle bread cubes evenly over. Combine eggs, cream, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl; whisk to blend well. Pour custard through sieve over bread in dish. Let pudding stand 30 minutes, occasionally pressing on bread to submerge.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Place baking dish in roasting pan. Pour enough lukewarm water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of baking dish. Bake pudding until set, brown on top, and small knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let cool in water 20 minutes. Spoon bread pudding into dessert bowls and serve warm. Top with nuts and caramel sauce. Serve warm or at room temperature with caramel sauce. See recipe below.

♥ Rich Caramel Sauce

1 cup white sugar
6 tablespoon good quality unsalted butter (use Kerry Gold if you can find it)
1/2 cup heavy cream (double cream)
1 teaspoon Sea Salt 

 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

Add the dry sugar in a heavy bottomed saucepan and cook on low until it melts. Keep swirling the pan so that the sugar can cook evenly. Once the sugar has reached a deep brown color, remove from heat and add all the butter. It will foam up, so make sure you're using a pan with high sides. Stir until it's completely melted into the sugar. Next, pour in the cream and whisk in until you have a consistent sauce. Stir in half the salt.
Let it cool completely. Stir in the remaining salt.

Caramel Sauce can be stored in a jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Great over bread puddings, cake, ice cream, etc.

 Photographs are copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home 2014.

Coca Cola Slow Cooked Ham

Remember this morning when I mentioned I was going to slow cook a ham today. This is a ham you will never forget....moist and tender and great for sandwiches...which I will be putting up soon. Well....what are you waiting for? Suppers ready...come and get it!

Coca Cola Slow Cooked Ham

5 lb. fully cooked boneless ham (I bought a spiral sliced)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons honey mustard
2 (12 ounce) cans Coca-Cola

If you get a pre-sliced ham you are ready to unwrap it and cook it. On the other hand, you need to do a little prep work on a ham that has not been pre-sliced. For a non-sliced ham, lightly score in diagonal lines first one way, then crosswise, to form a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut any deeper than about a eighth of an inch.

Make a paste of brown sugar and mustard and rub it into the sliced or scored ham. Do not rub it on the bottom or it overcook and burn. Move your ham to a large crock pot and pour both
cans of coca all around the outside of the ham...being careful not to wash away the brown sugar glaze. Set your slow cooker on low and let the ham cook for about 8 hours.

Hot Ham on a toasted potato roll with melted Oh yum Monterrey Jack cheese and a touch of mayo. 

 Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

The Story Of Glory

"Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever."

This is 3 year old Glory. She was adopted 10 months ago from the local SPCA, who was about three hours short of putting her to sleep forever. You see she had been dropped off a few days earlier and her 72 hours was almost up. That is what the Humane Society and the SPCA do. They give a dog or a cat 72 hours to find a home before they kill them unnecessarily. This is why I support the NO KILL advocacy group who work so hard to save those lives.

Glory was so scared and so sad. She had no idea where her family was and she cried constantly because she missed them and was so worried about them. She was so hungry but afraid to eat. Her coat was so dirty from laying on that cold and dirty concrete floor. She would soon be led to the rear of the shelter and put into the gas chamber or given a lethal injection. She had done nothing wrong. She just ran out of time. And then a miracle happened.

You see, one of my new friends who had just moved here to Maryland from North Carolina, went out shopping one day and made a wrong turn. She soon discovered that she was completely lost on a country road and the only place she could find to ask for directions was an animal shelter. So she pulled in the parking lot and went in to ask for directions to find her way back home again. Becky told the person behind the counter she was lost and he was kind enough to write down the directions to get her back on on the right road leading her home again. She started to leave but she heard barking and crying and curiosity got the best of her. She said she had this overwhelming conviction to take a peek at the "cute little puppies." You see Becky has never owned a dog before and she had no clue what these shelters were all about. She expected to see a pet shop environment with cute little puppies up for adoption. She asked if she could go see the puppies and the person at the counter shrugged his shoulders and said, "sure go take a look."

And that is when Becky's heart broke into a hundred pieces. She saw dogs that were so frightened and so starved for attention. Big dogs, little dogs, old and young. Shy dogs, sad dogs and dogs that were so shaken and scared. She walked quickly towards the exit door fighting back the tears and then she saw Glory. She was all the way in the back of that cold concrete cage, lying with her head down and not giving anyone any eye contact. Her food bowl was full and untouched and her water bowl was empty. She had no blanket or toys or anything to comfort her.

Becky stopped suddenly and said she was instantly drawn to that cage. She said she realized that she and Glory had a lot in common, for she too was very sad and and lonely in a new town with very few friends. She was also very unsure of the future and she missed her family so much. She knew right then and there that she needed to take this beautiful dog out of this God forsaken place and love her for the rest of her life. They would be good for each other. They would be best friends forever. She needed to let Glory know this right away.

She went back and asked the person behind the counter if she could visit with Glory to talk to her and to reassure her that she was going to be safe now and that she already had fallen in love with her. They let her in and gave her a chair to sit on and Glory eventually looked up and wagged her tail. That night they developed an instant bond like no other.

They made her wait for three more days and it was agonizing for Becky to leave Glory there alone wondering where her new friend went. But finally that day came and they have been inseparable ever since. Becky introduces Glory always with the same words, "This is my best friend Glory. She saved my life."

I hear these stories all the time and I really believe that these are God's miracles. I truly believe one of God's greatest gifts to mankind is a dog who loves you unconditionally and is a friend for life.

Easy Pork Roast

I love the smell of roast pork as it slow cooks in my oven on a cold snowy day. I want to show you just how easy it is to get a perfect roast every time. 

Easy Pork Roast

 1 (6-8 lb). boneless rolled Pork Loin or Sirloin pork Roast
1-2 cups of apple cider or chicken stock

Dry Rub

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons mild chili powder
2 tablespoons course salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons celery seeds
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
3 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground allspice

Mix all dry seasonings and ingredients together until blended. Lay roast on plastic wrap and coat with olive oil. You may also pour olive oil in spices and blend for a wet rub. Generously rub entire roast with spices. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Remove roast from refrigerator and set oven to 450 degrees. Place the roast on a rack inside a roasting pan with the fat pad on the top side up so you have a natural basting throughout the cooking process.

Roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes to sear the meat and activate the flavors of the spices. Carefully remove hot roasting pan from oven and pour chicken broth or apple juice under rack, making sure meat is not sitting in liquid. Cover entire roasting pan and rack with heavy foil to keep in steam. Reduce temperature down to only 250 degrees and bake for 60-90 minutes or until you reach a temperature of 145 degrees in the center of the roast.

Remove roasting pan from oven and carefully remove foil so that steam escapes. Carefully use tongs to lift the roast to a platter. Do not puncture with a fork. Tent loosely with foil and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before carving. Remove foil, slice, and serve.

 Photo credit http://www.primemeats.com/pork/pork-loin-roast/

You Are One Of A Kind

You Are One Of A Kind

God made you just the way he wanted.

You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth ...by The Master Craftsman.

You are unique...in your appearance, your character, your beliefs, your principles, your talents, and your gifts. There is no one or nothing else exactly like you.

He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. He gives you the moon at night and warm summer breezes. He gives you the song that birds sing to enlighten your days and the snow covered mountains to liven your senses. He brings you miracles every day to let you know he's nearby.

You are a miracle. He created you and he thinks you are wonderful and beautiful and he made no one else in this whole wide world like you. Remember that the next time you feel you are not good enough...thin enough...smart enough....pretty enough...You ARE enough.

You are one of a kind.

By the way, each day of your life God gives you a gift of 86,400 seconds. Have you used one of them today to tell him thank you?

Honey Sesame Chicken over Sticky Rice

I love this dish...I order it often when I go out for Chinese food. I also love making my own Chinese food at home and last summer I decided to try and come up with the right ingredients to copy the recipe of my favorite restaurant. I would say this is right on the mark. Tender moist chicken in a thick Asian honey sauce over a bed of perfect sticky rice. Sometimes I even add a little orange zest and orange juice to make orange chicken from the same recipe. This is a keeper my friends!

Honey Sesame Chicken over Sticky Rice

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 pinch each salt & pepper
4 tablespoons of vegetable or peanut oil (for frying)

Sauce

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup honey
½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

In a large bowl, coat chicken well on all sides in the cornstarch and add a pinch of salt and pepper. In a large heavy skillet, add the peanut or vegetable oil and fry the chicken over medium high heat for about 10 minutes or until it is golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Once all chicken is cooked, place it all back into the skillet with the heat turned down to simmer.

In a small bowl stir together soy sauce, water, sesame oil, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic, cornstarch, and sesame seeds. If you want to add spiciness or heat to your dish, now would be the time to stir in the red pepper flakes. Pour the sauce over the top of the chicken and toss to coast well. Sauce will start to thicken as it warms in the skillet. When it is the consistency you like, turn off the heat. Serve the chicken over a bed of rice and sprinkle with additional sesame seeds if desired.

Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

♥ Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet Dinner

Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet Dinner

From Marie over at the English Kitchen who is always so kind to share her recipes with us."This is one of those great family style dishes that not only tastes delicious, but is also quick, easy and feeds a crowd. You can cut the quantities in half if you like, but I'd also like to add that it freezes very well and so it's one of those things you can have in the freezer, ready to whip out at a moment's notice!"

1 box (16 0z) uncooked pasta
2 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 pound of bacon
1 onion, peeled and minced
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 cans of tomato soup
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon mixed herbs (dried basil, oregano, parsley, marjoram)
2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove with and set aside to drain. Add the beef, onions and garlic to the drippings. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the beef is lightly browned and the vegetables are soft. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the herbs. Crumble in the cooked bacon. Add the ketchup and tomato soup. Bring to the boil, then simmer while you cook the pasta.

Cook the pasta in lightly salted water according to the package directions until tender. Once tender, drain well and then stir into the beef mixture. Add 3/4 of the cheddar cheese and stir it in to melt, then sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top and allow to melt. Serve right from the pan with lots of crusty bread and a tasty salad on the side.

Make sure you stop by Marie's webpage for some of the best recipes and step by step directions on how to make them! Let her know Welcome Home sent you!

http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/03/bacon-cheeseburger-skillet-dinner.html

♥ Hash brown Egg Nests

Hash brown Egg Nests

1 box (5.2 oz) Betty Crocker® Seasoned Skillets® hash brown potatoes with hot water, salt and margarine called for on potato box
1/4 cup crumbled bacon or ham
6 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 6 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.

Make potatoes as directed on box. When done, place in medium bowl. Stir in crumbled bacon. Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups. Bake about 15 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown on edges. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

Crack 1 egg over each muffin cup. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 350°F about 18-20 minutes or until egg whites and yolks are firm, not runny. Cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin cups.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/egg-topped-hash-brown-nests/81c8931d-5efb-4e43-8e1b-f7f25f77ba02